Port officials report ferry service running and outline multi-year infrastructure timelines

Mr. Lee, delivering the Plaquemines Port Harbor and Terminal District status report, told commissioners the port’s ferry operations are functioning and that several projects are moving through design and permitting.

"I was on the Plaquemines Pride coming here and it ran very, very well," Mr. Lee said, noting routine operations have resumed and that the crew has performed well. He said Belchase 2 is in the final stages of dry dock and the vessel is expected to return to service late this month or in early June.

The status report outlined several near-term schedules and cost estimates. Port staff said a new ferry is projected to go to bid in July 2026 and that Point Laash landing replacement work is progressing; construction for that landing is projected to begin in December 2028. Permit drawings for a different landing were expected to start in approximately two weeks and the permit application process was described as taking about six months, with associated project costs estimated at approximately $2 million.

Mr. Lee also described staged timelines for barge-landing revitalization and broader critical-infrastructure coordination. He said a vessel at an LA Caterpillar facility is the subject of a notice asserting the company’s responsibility for damage and requesting document preservation and a joint inspection; Caterpillar’s legal team has asked for a meeting to discuss the pending issues.

Commissioners and staff also highlighted the Petersburg bypass and an associated two-lane auxiliary alignment intended to move rail out of downtown Gretina; the DOTD is leading that project and a July 2026 bid timeline was discussed. A water booster station and feed-line project led by contracted engineers and a final-phase contractor were reported as nearing completion, with a July 2026 projected finish for one project.

Why it matters: the reports indicate a series of coordinated capital projects that, if delivered on schedule, would expand port capacity and water infrastructure. Staff repeatedly emphasized multi-agency coordination — including DOTD and private contractors — and noted some work depends on permit timelines and engineering feedback.

The board did not take a final vote on any construction contracts during the status report; the meeting continued to other agenda items.